Music Therapy Matters Monthly - November 2017

November 8, 2017 02:37 PM

November 2017
Building the Future of Music Therapy

Click the links below to read more or – if the settings on your personal device browser don't allow it - go to the AMTA website first, log in with your current member email address and password, and then click the link for this month's issue of Music Therapy Matters Monthly under "Latest News" on the home page or use this link: http://www.musictherapy.org/members/music_therapy_matters/ and select the issue you desire.

Presidential Perspectives

President Geiger offers highlights in advance of the 2017 Annual Conference.

As we move through the fall holiday season, we look toward the Annual AMTA Conference at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, November 16-19. I am eager to meet and greet colleagues, friends, guests, and students, as we focus on ways of mindfulness in our work and world.

Following up on my column last month, I am delighted to welcome President Adolphus Pruitt of the St. Louis Chapter of the NAACP to the stage during the AMTA State of the Association Address on Friday morning. Additionally, numerous presentations about diversity and inclusion are on the conference schedule, including a continuation of last year’s “Courageous Conversations.”

Sessions regarding music therapy practices across age ranges and ability spectrums can be found in each concurrent session block. Not to be missed is the music provided by Ferguson musician, Brian Owens at the Opening Session as well as the music performed throughout conference by the conference choir and local musicians. On Friday afternoon and evening, “Music Got Me Here” featuring music therapist Tom Sweitzer and client Forrest Allen will be premiered.

Can’t make it to conference this year? Keep your eyes out for podcasts to come featuring some conference presenters and special focus topics. Follow #AMTA17 on social media to see what attendees are sharing.

National Conference Sponsors

(as of November 1, 2017)

Thank you to our conference sponsors! We could not have this conference without you!

DIAMOND CONFERENCE SPONSOR

Each One Counts Foundation

PLATINUM CONFERENCE SPONSORS

Alverno College

Blue Star Connection

Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT)

Colorado State University Online

Helms Briscoe

Humm.ly, Inc

Maryville University

Music Is Elementary

Music Together Worldwide

Oxford University Press

Remo, Inc

West Music Company

GOLD CONFERENCE SPONSORS

CARF-Aspire to Excellence

Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO)

IUPUI Department of Music and Arts Technology

Mid-Atlantic Region of AMTA

Yamaha Music and Wellness Institute

SILVER CONFERENCE SPONSORS

Meaningful Day Services

Pacific University

BRONZE CONFERENCE SPONSORS

American Music Therapy Association Students (AMTAS)

Southwestern Region of AMTA

The Spiegel Academy & Music Therapy Continuing Education

Internship Fair: IMPORTANT CHANGE

Attention all Internship Fair Participants! A scheduling conflict regarding the Internship Fair has come to our attention. Please note the following change:

The Internship Fair will now be held from 8:00 AM to 9:10 AM in the Pegram Room on Saturday, November 18. Participants can start setting up as early as 6 am that morning and keep items up until 1:00 PM that afternoon to allow time to attend any 9:15 AM sessions. We understand that this shortens the Internship Fair by 20 minutes, so please plan accordingly to arrive promptly by 8 AM to take full advantage of the allotted time. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you in advance for your understanding.

Additionally, Internship Fair participants are encouraged to attend the Coffee and Roundtable for Educators and Internship Directors/Supervisors: Continuing Collaboration and Dialogue in Midway Suite 10. This session begins at 7:00 AM to 7:55 AM with coffee served at 6:30 AM. Feel free to contact the AMTA National Office for additional information at (301) 589-3300.

Conference Transportation Information

AMTA and GO BEST Express have partnered to provide discounted shuttle service to/from the airport and downtown St. Louis hotels. Reserve in advance to guarantee a seat before they fill up. Discount rate ONLY available by booking through the provided link below no later than 11/13/17. Reservations made on the spot at the counter will be subject to standard rates of $45 roundtrip.

With your reservation, you will receive:

Conveniently located counters in both terminals in the baggage claim area for attendees to quickly find us, and even a text upon landing, letting everyone know the location just in case they forget.

Shuttles that run approximately every 15-30 minutes with advanced reservations from the airport, and by scheduled times for departures, for ease of mind so no one will wait long or miss their flight.

Highly trained and certified chauffeurs in multiple aspects of transportation, as safety is always our first priority.

Your special, discounted rate is only available until 11:59 pm, Monday, November 13, 2017

Please plan accordingly to make your reservation in time to take advantage of this great rate! Be sure to book ROUNDTRIP to ensure a ride to/from the airport. Discounted rates will not be available, and standard rates will apply, after the above cutoff date.

Another option for transportation to/from the airport is through St. Louis’s Metro Link Light Rail. Click here for rates and times: https://www.metrostlouis.org/metrolink/. The Light Rail stops behind the hotel (walk around to the front doors to get to the lobby).

AMTA Professional Volunteers for National Conference

We still have openings for professional volunteers to help welcome people to AMTA 2017. Some of the timeslots have been split into smaller windows, in hopes this will make it easier for you to commit to volunteering some of your time. There are a variety of ways you can help, including the registration desk, ushering at the opening ceremony, or in the instrument room.

The link to open volunteer slots is below. Feel free to sign up directly, or contact Cindy Smith for assistance at the AMTA National Office at (301) 589-3300.

Thank you in advance for donating your time to AMTA and helping make this conference extra special. Look forward to seeing you soon!

Opening Session with Brian Owens & The Deacons of Soul

Opening Session begins at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7:00 pm) on Thursday, November 16 with featured Performer, Brian Owens & the Deacons of Soul. Brian takes the R&B route to Johnny Cash tunes in an opening night of nostalgia and soul.

AMTA is proud to present Ferguson, Missouri’s own American Soul artist, Brian Owens and his band, The Deacons of Soul for a mix of original songs and music from Brian’s new “Soul of Cash” project. Brian takes the R&B route to Johnny Cash tunes in an opening night of nostalgia and soul. Brian is a legendary musician in the St. Louis area and has performed around the world. In 2015, he created a partnership with the Maryville University Music Therapy Program to begin working with youth using therapeutic songwriting, making him a true advocate for music therapy as well. This project has grown into the Sterling Bank for Life Community Partnership, under which at-risk students are provided opportunities to work with music therapy students. His collaboration with music therapy students provides opportunities for local youth to participate in ensembles, individual therapeutic songwriting, recording studio sessions, music lessons, and more. The house will be rocking!

Conference Registration Desk Hours

Conference Registration will be located in the Depot Registration Center. Please plan to pick up your badge and take care of any other needs during the following open times:

Conference App

As a companion to your printed program, the conference features the mobile app from Guidebook. To use this app, go to the Apple Store or Google Play store and search for “Guidebook” from Guidebook, Inc. Download the free app to your device. When you open the app, search for “2017 AMTA Conference” or enter passphrase “amta17.” Add the AMTA Conference guide to My Guides and sync to your phone. You are ready to explore the conference.

Exhibit Hall Hours

Come support the people who support music therapy! Make your purchases in the Exhibit Hall directly from the exhibitors and sponsors of the AMTA Conference. Please note the following hours of operation:

AMTA Workforce Study Now Available

Valuable information about the music therapy profession can be found in AMTA's annually published "AMTA Member Survey and Workforce Analysis, A Descriptive Statistical Profile of the AMTA Membership and Music Therapy Community." The 2017 edition of this document is available free of charge for current AMTA members in Member Resources>Job Center>Resources and Links section. Also available for purchase by non-members (free to current members) in the AMTA online bookstore.

AMTA Election: Candidates for 2018-2019 Term

Please take a moment to meet the candidates who are running for President Elect and Vice President Elect for the 2018-2019 term by clicking here:

(Please refer to Article III. Membership, Sections 2-9)
All current Professional, Retired and Honorary Life members are eligible to vote.

HOW DO I CAST MY VOTE?

All current 2017 Professional, Retired & Honorary Life AMTA members should be prepared to vote electronically this year using a ballot invitation sent to their “Primary” email address listed in the AMTA record. Your ballot will be emailed on November 21, 2017. You must vote online by December 21, 2017. No exceptions will be made.

Hard copies of the biographical summaries and question responses WILL NOT be mailed through the US Postal Service out for this election. Ballots WILL NOT be mailed through the US Postal Service for this election. All AMTA members will need to vote using the online ballot sent for this election which will be managed by Balloteer.com. In order to receive an invitation to vote, members must have provided AMTA with an email address listed as their “Primary” email address in their AMTA member record. If you do not have an email address, please be aware that there are many free, convenient options for obtaining an email address (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and AOL mail are just a few free email services and local libraries offer free computer access for those who do not own a computer). You must have contacted the AMTA national office to have your email address added to your record by October 1, in order to be eligible to vote in this election.

Music Therapy Perspectives Editor in Chief Announced

AMTA is excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Laura Beer as the incoming Editor-in-Chief of Music Therapy Perspectives (MTP). She will assume her duties as Editor-in-Chief when the next term begins on January 1, 2019. Click here to read more.

November Member Benefit Highlights

Check out your latest perks for being a part of our AMTA family. We are AMTA!

Advocacy: Renée Fleming, Dr. Rachelle Fleming, and Ann Ziff presented a panel, "Exploring the intersection of music, health and neuroscience" at Temple University. Ms. Fleming talked about the commitment of the Kennedy Center and the NIH to exploring and supporting music in health and music therapy. She described this musical moment with Francis Collins Director of the NIH, and explained he plays music every day as part of his own well-being. Renee Fleming is an Artist Spokesperson for AMTA. #musictherapy

New AMTA-pro podcast, "Interprofessional Education & Music Therapy"

#AMTA17 Special Trainings, CMTE courses, conference registration, current members receive discounts on all these and more when you attend the AMTA Annual Conference.

AMTA Job Center

In the past 30 days, AMTA provided 38 referral lists of music therapists.

In the past 30 days, AMTA posted 32 new music therapy-related positions.

To see more job opportunities for music therapists, current members can visit the Job Center (from the AMTA website, select Member Resources>Job Center>Job Hotline) and log in with your email address and password.

Quote of the Month

Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.